US television networks have resumed coverage of the White House after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore access to three news organisations, although the dispute over press access remains unresolved.
Last week, President Donald Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House complex. A federal judge later ordered the administration to restore their access, ruling that the ban was likely unconstitutional.
The White House television press pool on Friday aired footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping arriving at the White House for tea on the final day of his visit to the United States. It also covered Trump and Xi’s visit to the National Archives, which houses the US Constitution.
CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC share the costs of covering the president and rotate responsibility for providing footage to other media organisations. However, the other networks had declined to deploy cameras in solidarity with the three barred outlets, resulting in no pool coverage during the first two days of Xi’s visit.
CNN said on Friday evening that it had also been barred from travelling with Trump aboard Air Force One for his weekend trip to Tennessee. The White House did not immediately comment on the report.
Trump has frequently used media coverage to promote his public agenda while also criticising major news organisations as political opponents. Since returning to office last year, his administration has taken measures that have restricted media access to the Oval Office and other areas of the White House.
As television pool coverage resumed for Xi’s arrival on Friday, Trump declined to answer reporters’ questions about China, Iran, the media access dispute and a taxpayer-funded television advertisement promoting his presidency. He later thanked reporters for their coverage.
“We appreciate the fair coverage. It’s been very fair. We appreciate it,” Trump said while standing alongside Xi.
The White House did not immediately comment on the status of the restored press access.
Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over coverage that he characterised as false or negative. Their access was restored on Thursday after a federal judge found that the ban was likely unconstitutional and ordered the administration to reinstate their access.
The three organisations sued Trump and members of his administration, arguing that the restrictions violated First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and the press, as well as their due process rights.
A coalition of press freedom organisations and dozens of news outlets, including Reuters, subsequently filed a legal brief supporting the challenge.
The judge’s temporary order has restored access but has not resolved the broader legal dispute. The outlets have until September 28 to ask the court to maintain their access while the case proceeds.
Even if the organisations secure a permanent injunction preventing the ban, the administration could continue to pursue the matter through the federal court system.
Trump has maintained a contentious relationship with major media organisations since returning to office, including publicly criticising journalists, restricting access for some outlets and pursuing legal action against news organisations. He has also called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the licences of some broadcast stations.
During Xi’s visit on Thursday, Trump joked with photographers in the Oval Office about China, where media organisations operate under strict government censorship, having the “friendliest press corps.”
Although the White House told the court on Thursday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico had regained access, CNN and MS NOW later said some of their journalists were denied entry to cover Xi’s arrival for the White House state dinner.
A lawyer representing the three organisations warned the court that the administration could attempt to revoke their access again while the legal proceedings continue.
David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, attended the Trump-Xi state dinner. Paramount Skydance is seeking to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.
The proposed deal has also prompted scrutiny of CBS News coverage. Critics have raised concerns that the network could tailor its coverage to favour Trump, while Ellison has said he plans to establish an editorial independence board overseeing both CBS and CNN as part of the proposed transaction.
